Hamilton is offering incentives to help lure Hollywood producers to town, which offers a mix of fading industrial buildings, historic homes and a rural haven just outside of the city.

"Look around our city and you have every kind of setting imaginable, except maybe an ocean and a desert," said Steve Colwell, of Film Hamilton.

Colwell, who works for TV Hamilton, said he recently worked with a local filmmaker who wondered why the city wasn't promoting its locations.

So Colwell helped launch Film Hamilton, a private organization that receives no taxpayer support, to help promote the city and raise money for TV Hamilton by bringing filmmakers to town.

"We're looking at partners with local businesses that have services that the film industry can use, like hair, makeup, catering, chauffeurs – that kind of thing – and also that have creative properties that can be used to do film producing," said Mindy Muller, of Community Development Professionals.

She said Ohio has become increasingly attractive to filmmakers due to its tax credit.

"Michigan is decreasing their tax benefits, so it's really opened the possibility for Ohio to capitalize on that," Muller said.

Colwell said the scenery can only sell itself to a certain point.

"But if you can show them how you're going to save them money by coming to your area, then they're going to come," he said.

The organization will host a breakfast Oct. 19 at the downtown Marriott.